You’ve undoubtedly run across people who, in their personal lives, seem to be above reproach, both morally and ethically, but put them in a business situation and, well, they can exhibit an incredible lack of morality and ethical behavior. Or, of course, the situation could easily be reversed. People may exhibit a high degree of moral and ethical behavior on the job, but, in their personal lives, behave in exactly the opposite manner. But that’s another matter. In this installment we will focus strictly on the business aspects of ethics and morality.
Let us reveal the dictionary definitions:
Ethics–plural noun
(Usually used with a singular verb) that branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions.
Morals–adjective
Have, pertaining to, or concerned with the principles or rules of right conduct or the distinction between right and wrong; ethical: moral attitudes.
How much of an issue is ethics and morality in business? Apparently, it’s a significant issue, particularly as it applies to employee relations. Pick up almost any newspaper today and chances are there will be a regular feature that focuses on job-related issues: how to get along with "bosses from hell," how to avoid the office "back-stabbers" or the office "gossips," ad infinitum. And, of course, all such forms of anti-social behavior, we contend, fall under the general purview of immoral and unethical behavior on the job. Treating one’s fellow human being in such a manner, whether that person is a subordinate or a peer falls significantly short of practicing "The Golden Rule" (Treat others as you would like to be treated).
Defenders of such behavior generally consisting of those on the giving end, rather than those on the receiving end point to the fact that such behavior is excusable because it occurs in a business setting. Business is serious stuff, they argue, a "contest," where the "strong" not only survive over the weak but prevail. The toughest, the most vicious, the most predatory, the most domineering and the most intimidating "win" in business! It’s definitely a "win at any cost" proposition, even if that means severely "cutting corners" on either morals or ethics, or both. Different values prevail, they say. I say, "Nonsense!"
Without question, to succeed in business today, and arguably, at any other time in business history, certainly one has to be shrewd, aggressive and persistent. That does not mean, however, that one has to ignore moral and ethical norms.
Of course, we have all heard or read the stories about those people who continually exhibit incredibly immoral or unethical behavior and still gravitate to the highest ranks of business, sometimes even aspiring to the top slot in an organization. What’s the message here? Without question, it seems to be a mixed one. Most of us instinctively believe, by virtue of our religious beliefs, our moral upbringing, or even our own internal moral "compass," that ultimately evil will be punished, either in the here and now or certainly in the great beyond. Yet seeing such obviously immoral and unethical people prosper in a business setting seems to give lie to that belief, does it not? It almost appears that commonly accepted standards of moral and ethical behavior apply in every facet of life except in business. Almost.
We happen to believe that most people are honest, principled and, given the opportunity, will do the right thing, whether they are in a social setting or a business setting. Most of us don’t practice one set of moral and ethical rules in our personal lives and another set in our business lives. Nor should we. As with most immoral and unethical behavior, that occurring in a business setting will ultimately be punished. It might not be today, or even tomorrow or the next day, but it will ultimately have negative repercussion!
How will this punishment reveal itself? We’re already beginning to see evidence of it. Just recently a number of major companies, which, over the years, have reportedly treated their employees in less than an appreciative manner, have practically been overwhelmed with "volunteers" for staff reduction programs the companies have announced. Not surprisingly, no loyalty or genuine commitment to the workers is resulting in any loyalty or genuine commitment from the workers. And, while the companies may today be rather blasé about such a turn of events, their attitudes could quickly change in the future if, as has happened often in the past, these same companies find they need to rebuild their workforces to meet growing business needs. Obviously, in the current period of record unemployment, especially among skilled workers, they shouldn’t expect employees to beat an existing path out the door. They can get away with treating their employees in a sub-par manner because it is the opinion that every employee should be grateful that they have a job at all.
There are, unfortunately, numerous other recent examples of incredibly immoral and unethical behavior being regularly practiced in, or at least tacitly condoned by, the executive suites of major companies. (We’re not even going to touch on what is alleged to have been happening recently in the highest circles of American government!) The giant commodities conglomerate Archer Daniels Midland comes immediately to mind. Key executives recently came under fire for attempted price-fixing, skimming and a number of other nefarious activities. Then there is Mitsubishi Motors, which agreed to a $34 million settlement with a group of women claiming gross and rampant sexual harassment at its Bloomington-Normal, IL, manufacturing facility. And, of course, there is the Denny’s Restaurant chain, which has been charged with practicing racial discrimination among black customers.
Let us not exclude Wall Street, financial managers, state, local, federal government employees and elected officials.
Unfortunately, the list goes on and on.
How many years will it take for these companies, as well as some other well-known companies who have behaved just as despicably, to regain their formerly good reputations? Will they ever regain their good reputations?
It is deceptively easy to view the antics of such major companies rather impersonally, i.e., to view the companies as individual entities practicing immoral and unethical behavior, rather than placing the culpability where it rightfully belongs on the shoulders of the human individuals actually responsible for such reprehensible conduct.
Make no mistake about it; companies that allow their officers and employees to behave in an immoral or unethical fashion will not survive long term in the marketplace. Some of them obviously believe that they can do anything and still survive as long as they have enough money to "buy" their way out of trouble (if they are caught). But that belief has never worked very well for very long in human circles, and it won’t work very well for very long in business circles, either. Just as inevitably happens to human beings who practice such self-deception, the companies’ that likewise practice it will ultimately be "history."
I invite your feedback.
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